Suspect in Maldives boat blast arrested in Sri Lanka

One of eight suspects wanted in connection with explosion aboard the speedboat belonging to the Maldives President has been arrested by Police in Nedimala, Dehiwala.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has already extradited a suspect arrested in the neighbouring country Saturday in connection to an explosion aboard a presidential speedboat late September, Maldives police announced Monday, according to the Haveeru news agency in the Maldives.

Ahmed Ashraf, known by his social media moniker of Shumba Gong, is a self-declared supporter of the embattled vice president Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor.

Sri Lankan authorities arrested him Saturday evening on the request of their Maldivian counterparts.

In a statement posted on its website, the Maldives police said Ashraf was brought to Male Monday morning. He was taken to the police detention centre in the island of Dhoonidhoo in Kaafu Atoll.

Maldivian authorities had on Sunday warned an international manhunt would be launched if eight suspects it had identified as being involved in the blast did not return to the Maldives voluntarily.

Home minister Umar Naseer who heads a national enquiry commission constituted by the president to investigate the blast said Sunday that the suspects were in neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and Thailand.

“I urge them to come here voluntarily and cooperate with the investigation. Otherwise, we’ll have to bring them through the Interpol,” the minister said, during a press conference Sunday afternoon at the President’s Office capital Male.

“They’ve been evading justice after committing an act of terrorism in the Maldives.”

Allam is also a close associate of the now detained vice president. He is one of the four shareholders of a company that owns Hibilhadhoo island in Baa Atoll, which is being developed as a resort, from where the armed forces had discovered a large weapons stash.

The weapons showcased during a press conference Saturday included several hand guns, a T56 assault rifle and a MP5 sub-machine gun. In addition, a large quantity of bomb making material were also displayed at the press briefing.

However, Allam who is believed to be in UK, through his lawyer had denied any knowledge of the weapons found in the island.

Meanwhile, Adheeb’s relative had been arrested in Malaysia and repatriated to the Maldives as the crackdown on the VP’s close associates continued before and after his arrest.

Vice President Adheeb was arrested last week over the blast aboard the presidential speedboat carrying the president in September.

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim were travelling to Male from the airport on September 28 when the explosion took place. They had returned home that morning after concluding their visit to Saudi Arabia to perform the annual hajj pilgrimage.